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Garey Park Bird Blind Planting Volunteers THANK YOU!

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image of people digging holes

— by Randy Pensabene

Several months ago, NPSOT-Wilco received a request from the Good Water Texas Master Naturalist team. They asked us to add plants around the newly built Garey Park Bird Blind that would invite and support local and migrating birds. In response, the request was brought before the board and funding was approved, as long as they agreed to a plan using all native plants. To better understand their requirements and desires, we met with Garey Park personnel at the bird blind.

  • It was agreed that we could plant whatever we chose, but the plants and overall design should support and bring in birds for a good viewing experience.
  • The area immediately in front of the viewing windows has to be left clear so that birdseed could be spread and bird and hummingbird feeders could be hung in that area.
  • The view to the river must not be blocked off, small portions could be obscured.
  • The area will be left natural, not be mowed and not receive any special care or irrigation.
  • One area adjacent to the bird blind building was reserved for the Master Naturalists to put in a Butterfly Garden; the rest was ours to enhance.
  • The close-up viewing area would have a feral hog fence, and the deer would visit our plantings.
  • A rain barrel will be filled from the roof of the bird blind, and the City of Georgetown will fill it with water when there are no rains.
  • The path through the fence gate must remain clear.

After we understood what they had in mind, we wanted to better understand what would naturalize well in the area. So, we looked at the soil, sun/shade, and views from the bird blind and we observed the native plants that were growing in the area. Our next step was to approach Barbara Wright of Wright’s Nursery to assist NPSOT-Wilco in choosing the locally-native plants preferred by the birds, deliver them to the site and guide us in their placement; she enthusiastically agreed!

At 10:00 AM on Friday, November 2, 2018, an excited group of volunteers showed up at the bird blind with shovels in hand. The group included: Gary Bowers, Randy Pensabene, Sue Hickman, Kathy and Walt Henderson, Linda Reed, Christie Gardner, Dave Gage, Penny Villanueva and her 3 delightful grandkids, Carolyn Doolittle, Donald Preble and Cynthia Edgar (who had heard about the call for volunteers for planting day through the Master Naturalists). And, of course, Barbara Wright was there with her big shiny trailer full of beautiful locally-native, bird-friendly plants.

We encourage everyone to go visit Georgetown’s newest park and enjoy the Bird Blind at Garey Park, 6450 Ranch Road 2243, Georgetown TX 78628 (https://parks.georgetown.org/gareypark). Nestled along the South San Gabriel River, the 525-acre ranch was donated by Jack and Cammy Garey in 2004. Amenities at the park include a playground, a splash pad, a dog park, an equestrian arena, a bird blind, fishing ponds, the Garey House event facility, pavilions, picnic shelters, and more than 7 miles of hiking and equestrian trails.

It was a remarkable opportunity, and NPSOT offers a sincere THANK YOU! to everyone who participated.

Click here to see a photo gallery from the bird blind installation.

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Let’s Preserve Berry Springs Park and Preserve

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The following letter from Robert Kamper recently appeared in the Williamson County Sun. Several members of NPSOT-Wilco felt that we should reprint it, along with a full color photo of the wildflower meadow mentioned below. Additional information from the October 4 hearing is also provided, as well as who and how to contact the parties involved:

image of wildflower meadow
Wildflower meadow, Berry Springs Park & Preserve

A picture, it has been said, is worth a thousand words. Here is a picture of the beautiful wildflower meadow at Berry Springs Park and Preserve. Picture in your mind’s eye that instead of that meadow, what it might look like with a trench a hundred feet wide running through it and fifty feet deep with a wastewater line running through it.  Imagine it would look like an IH-35 construction zone with a toilet in the middle of it.

Although running a sewage line through the middle of Berry Springs Park and Preserve might be the cheapest, shortest, and easiest solution from an engineering point of view, it is the wrong decision from almost any other point of view. And all points of view must be taken into account.

A word in the title of Berry Springs Park and Preserve should also be taken into account: “Preserve.”

 According to Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary, the definition of a “Preserve” as a noun is “an area restricted for the protection and preservation of natural resources (such as animals or plants).” As a transitive verb, it means “to keep safe from injury, harm, or destruction : PROTECT.” In no way will a wastewater line through Berry Springs Park and Preserve reflect the meaning of that word.

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Charles Newsom, who has been active in the implementation of the interpretive plant signs found at Berry Springs, reports from the October 4, 2018 meeting to gather public input that “The last place you would want to dig a trench for a pipeline, from an engineering point of view, is in an area full of seeps and springs. For this reason alone the pipeline should not go through Berry Springs Park.  One of the engineers at the meeting indicated that it is 100% likely they will hit a seep or spring while digging.  When that happens it triggers a lot of extra work and expense.”

So even though it might seem like the easiest and cheapest way to go, it is likely to run over schedule, over budget, and destroy a natural resource that was intended to be a preserve.

Our Williamson County NPSOT chapter vice-president, Kathy McCormack, has provided the following information on submitting comments on this project. (You do not need to be a member of NPSOT-Wilco to make your voice heard):

If you missed the public meeting on October 4, 2018, you can still send your public comments to:

  • City of Georgetown
  • Attn:  Systems of Engineering
  • P.O. Box 409
  • Georgetown, Texas  78627

OR

[email protected]

The public comment can be as simple as, “I do not approve of the proposed routes for the Berry Creek Wastewater Interceptor Pipeline near or through Berry Springs Preserve.”  Include your contact information (mailing address, phone, and/or email address) if you want to be included on any future stakeholder communication.

You can also send your public comments to the Williamson County Judge and Commissioners at (all information obtained from http://www.wilco.org/Elected-Officials):

If you live in Williamson County, you can find your Commissioner at https://gis.wilco.org/maps/?viewer=countymap (click on Map Layers in the bottom left, then check the box next to Commissioner Precincts under the Administrative Boundaries heading).  Note that Berry Springs Preserve is located within Precinct 3.

If you are unaware of what is about, here are some links to past publications on the subject:

Let us help our elected officials and civic servants make an informed choice that reflects the values we hold dear.

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Nov 8 Meeting: “Native Texas Plants for Butterflies”, at AgriLife

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Our November 8 meeting is in the AgriLife building on Inner Loop in Georgetown, NOT at the Georgetown library.  The AgriLife address is at the bottom of this post.

This month, Lynne and Jim Weber will speak about “Native Texas Plants for Butterflies” bringing their observations and expertise to the world of Lepidoptera.

Lynne and Jim are certified Texas Master Naturalists and Lynne is past president of the Capital Area chapter.  They are the authors of Nature Watch Austin, Nature Watch Big Bend and Native Host Plants for Texas Butterflies, all published by Texas A&M University Press.

The Weber’s volunteer activities include: Golden-cheeked Warbler surveys, guided hikes, property monitoring & invasive plant mapping/control for the City of Austin Wildland Conservation Division; Lepidoptera curating & outreach for the University of Texas Insect Collection; Colima Warbler surveys for Big Bend National Park; Certified Habitat Stewards for the National Wildlife Federation; owners of a private 8-acre preserve now part of the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve; nature writers & photographers for newsletters & other publications.  Lynne has served on the Big Bend Natural History Association (BBNHA) Board of Directors & and is a member of the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve Citizens Advisory Council. Jim has served as a member of the BBNHA Advisory Board & the Board of Directors for the Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute.

Check out Lynne and Jim’s NatureWatch blog.

Danaus giilppus, Queen butterfly on Conoclinium greggii, Gregg's Mistflower
Danaus giilppus, Queen butterfly on Conoclinium greggii, Gregg’s Mistflower

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NPSOT-Williamson County meets the second Thursday of each month, 7 to 8:30 pm.  Meetings are free and open to the public.  Arrive early (6:30 pm) to visit, or to check out available information or seed swaps and chat with other native plant enthusiasts.

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